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Genesis Columns Advanced vs Columns (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

Genesis Columns Advanced

Genesis Columns Advanced

4.8(25)

10K+ active installs

Free

Updated 1 year ago
View Genesis Columns Advanced
VS
Columns

Columns

4.1(22)

3.0K+ active installs

Free

Updated 8 years ago
View Columns

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, Genesis Columns Advanced has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 25 reviews) and leads in active installations (10K+ vs 3.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Genesis Columns Advanced has accumulated 137K+ total downloads while Columns has 91K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.8/5Genesis Columns Advanced
◄
Columns4.1/5
Total Reviews
25Genesis Columns Advanced
◄
Columns22
Active Installs
10K+Genesis Columns Advanced
◄
Columns3.0K+
Total Downloads
137K+Genesis Columns Advanced
◄
Columns91K+
Support Resolution
N/AGenesis Columns Advanced
ColumnsN/A
Last Updated
1 year agoGenesis Columns Advanced
◄
Columns8 years ago
First Released
2015Genesis Columns Advanced
Columns2013
Age
11 yearsGenesis Columns Advanced
Columns13 years
WP Requires
3.6+Genesis Columns Advanced
Columns4.4+
PHP Requires
false+Genesis Columns Advanced
Columnsfalse+
Business Model
FreeGenesis Columns Advanced
ColumnsFree
Latest Version
2.0.5Genesis Columns Advanced
Columns0.7.3

Rating Breakdown

Genesis Columns Advanced

4.8/5(25 reviews)
5
88%
4
4%
3
4%
2
4%
1
0%

Columns

4.1/5(22 reviews)
5
68%
4
5%
3
9%
2
9%
1
9%

Recent Reviews

Genesis Columns Advanced Reviews

by aga2442

quite successful

I was using a different plugin before. I had a lot of problems. but now i am using this plugin. It takes up very little space. I recommend it to those who use classic editors.

by mediafluent

Needs update for Gutenberg

I’m sure it’s awesome for classic editor but would be even more awesome if it worked with Gutenberg which it does not even though the plugin is compatible with newest version of WP.

by eir3apps

Great

Very useful!

Columns Reviews

by meylodie

Efficient and simple to use, thank you!

It does not compare with other columns plugins, as it is the simplest I have been able to use. It is perfect when using Disable Gutenberg or such.

by Bianca

Simple and effective

I really like these kind of lean plugins. Maybe it’s not for everyone but it doesn’t add any bloat and I like that. To the people who say this plugin is not responsive. Responsive settings are based

by WebDeb

Works nicely but is not responsive

Installed great but on a phone gives two really skinny columns instead of stacking them up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Genesis Columns Advanced or Columns more popular?
Genesis Columns Advanced has 10K+ active installations while Columns has 3.0K+. Genesis Columns Advanced is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Genesis Columns Advanced or Columns?
Genesis Columns Advanced has a 4.8/5 rating from 25 reviews, while Columns has a 4.1/5 rating from 22 reviews.
Are Genesis Columns Advanced and Columns free?
Genesis Columns Advanced is free and Columns is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Genesis Columns Advanced or Columns?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Genesis Columns Advanced was last updated 1 year ago and Columns was last updated 8 years ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.